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YOUR RESEARCHCat suggestions?
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Install (i thought it was just the "sniffer"
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Not being a smog technician, I never heard of the visual inspection until after it was installed (I thought it was just the "sniffer" that it had to pass).
Leading evidence: 'Install (i thought it was just the "sniffer"' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check but' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I ran AWE cats for a bout 6,000 miles and liked them.
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A few years ago this worked no problem, in the last 2-3 years they have caught on and most emissions testing looks specifically for this.
Outcome qualification: Negation, uncertainty or missing explicit repair resolution overrides the raw extraction signal.
Check but
Suggestion or failed attempt
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Suggestion
It still does the check but with a lower threshold before it will trigger CEL.
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Suggestion
There was a thread recently in the off topic about random check points.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Not being a smog technician, I never heard of the visual inspection until after it was installed (I thought it was just the "sniffer" that it had to pass).
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Suggestion
Once they change the way smog is done (By using the OBDII instead of sniffer) no visual inspection is needed, and as long as your ECU is happy, you will pass.
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Suggestion
Most of the local Smog centers are only interested in getting paid for the smog cert; however, occasionally, you run into that smog technician who will reject your aftermarket cats and fail your car.
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Suggestion
My mechanic and Fabspeed both told me it would pass smog test (I did ask that before it was installed), but now I find that this is not the case if they actually do the visual inspection, since there is no CARB stamp/label on it.
Test instead of it going through its rounds and actually
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Suggestion
What I have seen tuners do is force it to pass, so when they plug into your OBDII port and initiate their test instead of it going through its rounds and actually testing (which takes time) it comes up as PASS immediately during the testing phase.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
34 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Outcome without a verified action link
This is easy when you have 10,000 computer geeks driving Honda's, they solved this problem long ago because they all mess with their motors and ECU's and were in dire need of a solution.
Hi Guys:
it sounds like one of my cats has gone bad, again (both have been replaced, at different times). There is a bit of a rattle, (at start up) but goes away, (IMS was done a few years ago) also just got a check engine light, which I need to investigate (i.e., get a code reader).
It is an '03 with 43,300 on the clock, runs like a champ.....I am thinking of installing 200 cell cats(?) or something like that.....who has some suggestions for me....I did look at the Fabspeed website, (used to live very near their new location).... not sure from the website if they sell hi flow cats, only and what about the CEL, if you install hi flow cats. I have the Fister D's and love 'em. Who do you guys recommend???Any suggestions would be helpful, thankx, in advance.
Here is a dyno chart of our Sport Cat X-pipe on an '02 3.6 996. We use only the best HJS 200 Cell Sport Catalytic Converters which means you will not trigger a CEL, even with a stock ECU file. On a bone stock car or one with modified stock mufflers you will see big gains as the backpressure remains at a level the engine/cams like.
I have the Speed Tech X-Pipe with the 200cell high flow cats and could not be happier. No CEL issues and the sound with the Fister D Stage III Titanium sport mufflers is sublime
No it will not.
I have 42 Draft Designs 200 cell cats on my car. Sound is just right as well as the power. Felt no losses down low and can really feel the car pull much quicker through the power band. No CEL, awesome sound and lots of power
If you wan't to pass smog in CA you NEED to have a cat that has passed the CARB tests and it MUST be stamped with the correct part numbers.
There are ways to make the ECU happy and now throw a check engine light, however if the smog shop looks at your cats and see you have something besides the OEM cats they will look for a number that is stamped into the cat and to see if that comes up in their database as a legal cat for your car.
If they sniffer test your exhaust pipes and you do not have readings from a legal cat you can be fined and the car impounded. There was a thread recently in the off topic about random check points.
Unfortunately I have not seen a cat that has been given the go ahead by CARB for the 996's.
If you have a shop that doesn't bother with visual inspections, I would imagine the high-flow cats would pass. I'll let you know, as I have the cat rattle bad enough to need to do something, and I'm sure-as-shootin' not going to shell out $$$ for OEM cats. I'll reinstall the rattletraps if necessary.
Since my favorite shop is not equipped with an AWD dyno, he sniffs the exhaust and takes my money.
*Bit off topic*
Smog should not be a problem as of 2014. Once they change the way smog is done (By using the OBDII instead of sniffer) no visual inspection is needed, and as long as your ECU is happy, you will pass.
We are not sure if reflashed (tuned) ECU's will pass on Porsche's yet, but I have seen it work on many other kinds of cars.
As long as the ECU tells the tech that it is stock and everything is within CA regulations, you get a pass.
*end thread jacking*
I have heard similar claims in other states, but tuned ECU's are starting to not having luck passing. What the tune does is it forces ECU to pass the rear o2's. When smog testing is done they reset this and a car with a normal tune will take measurements to determine if the cat is doing its job or not, it will take readings based on multiple sensors, compare them and come up with a result of PASS of FAIL.
What I have seen tuners do is force it to pass, so when they plug into your OBDII port and initiate their test instead of it going through its rounds and actually testing (which takes time) it comes up as PASS immediately during the testing phase.
A few years ago this worked no problem, in the last 2-3 years they have caught on and most emissions testing looks specifically for this. They look to see if the car passes immediately and is a forced pass, or if the ECU actually goes through the test and gives it the correct information.
Thats not to say there isn't a hardware "fix" to this, but almost everyone I talk to who has had a tuner fix the P0420 code for them via software is not longer able to pass emissions and must get the flash edited or removed.
Many states use the OBDII style of smog check. CA wil be moving to it soon. (Was supposed to be 6-2013, but that day has come and gone and we still use the sniffer)
For the first couple years people may be able to get away with tuned ECU's, as the system CA is using is an outdated program. Once they update everything, meaning everyone (Smog shops) then it will get a little harder.
What is working on other brands is to have a true guru write up a whole new program for the stock ECU. This will make the OBD transmit stock figures even when reset. This is easy when you have 10,000 computer geeks driving Honda's, they solved this problem long ago because they all mess with their motors and ECU's and were in dire need of a solution. But when it comes to cars that are not as prevalent in numbers, and whose owners are less likely to mod their cars, it will take longer to find that guru we so desperately need.
In short - OP, get stock cats. Bite the bullet and pony up the bucks.
**Note to self** Keep a stock ECU and Exhaust system on hand to rent out to people who need to pass smog
Interesting. I'd always wondered why CA hadn't moved to OBD smogging - good to know that we'll get there eventually. It does suck for the smog shops that have had to plow money into hardware every time CA gets another wild burr and modifies the requirements. I know of at least one guy who closed because he couldn't afford the new hardware...
Absolutely, passed two months ago with flying colors
No tricks or sneaky stuff, just hooked it to the machine and it passed
They are tremendous, they make the car feel so much sportier...
First off on a retuned 996 ECU, you can have the option to lower the threshold on the o2 sensors. It still does the check but with a lower threshold before it will trigger CEL.
Secondly for Cali peeps that can pass with cell 200 cat elements but might fear the visual inspection, Carnewal offers an exchange program where the cut open your factory cats and installs cell 200 cat elements and TIG welds them back up. This could be another option.
http://beta.carnewal.be/products/P96...-to-Sport-Cats
Thanks, Alpine. That's an interesting option. Stock cat is like $1.7k + shipping each from Sunset so this option costs about half of that but will need to mod both cats at the same time though.
I ran AWE cats for a bout 6,000 miles and liked them. Just posted them for sale since I am selling my 996 and needed to put back the oem cats. Here in CA they will not smog the vehicle with aftermarket cats.
^^^ Ditto, same here.
Chris @Fabspeed:
Before I installed the Fabspeed Performance Package, I asked if it would pass CA smog and was told "Yes." After speaking to several people now, I'm not so sure. Can you please confirm? Thanks!
Regarding California, I found the following link for California EPA Air Resources Board approved aftermarket catalytic converters;
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...ktcatdbase.htm
You can search for approved cat manufacturers by vehicle type. Unfortunately none of the suppliers that we would consider for our 996�s are approved.
Just an update. CARB approved cats are finally available for our cars. However, from the photos, it doesn't look like particularly well made
(the pipe doesn't have uniform diameter and looks crimped??)
http://www.converterwarehouse.com/ca...oductID=508961
I didn't need to do a smog cert this year. I think it's required only every two or three years, I forgot.
Anyway, I'm already getting quite worried about it. Not being a smog technician, I never heard of the visual inspection until after it was installed (I thought it was just the "sniffer" that it had to pass).
My mechanic and Fabspeed both told me it would pass smog test (I did ask that before it was installed), but now I find that this is not the case if they actually do the visual inspection, since there is no CARB stamp/label on it.
I plan to raise holy hell if it fails when I next need to do smog. Of course, I doubt the mechanic or Fabspeed will be there to help me out at that time.
Another mechanic told me that the mechanic who installed it will be in deep doo-doo if I bring it up to CARB, since apparently it's illegal for them to install a non-certified cat.
So, you may see some "interesting" postings from me about this topic in a year or so.
If anyone else here has any advise, I sure would appreciate it!
None of these products will pass visual inspection in California if the operator is on the ball. Most of the local Smog centers are only interested in getting paid for the smog cert; however, occasionally, you run into that smog technician who will reject your aftermarket cats and fail your car. It is just a matter of finding that one that isn't concerned with visuals. Good luck
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